Crews battle house fire in Spencer

An early morning, two-alarm fire destroyed a single-story ranch house today at 15 Longview Drive.

“No one was home; there were no injuries,” said Fire Chief Robert Parsons. “The home was a total loss.”

Some people driving in the area around 4 this morning used a cellphone to call Leicester Police to report the fire. Leicester dispatched three fire companies. Meanwhile, the fire was actually determined to be on a dead-end, private road in Spencer. Firefighters in that town were dispatched.

By then, live power lines had burnt down and had fallen across the driveway and road blocking the hydrant. Therefore firefighters had to bring water from hoses down the street from about 900 feet away across Route 9.

The breezeway connecting the garage and the house was fully involved, and flames had spread into the garage and house. Firefighters attacked the blaze from outside until they were able to make their way into the front door, and pushed the fire out.

The fire appeared to be accidental, according to Chief Parsons, and caused by a heater in the breezeway used in a taxidermy shop.

Paxton firefighters assisted Spencer and Leicester firefighters at the scene, and firefighters from East Brookfield covered the town's fire station.

The property is owned by Richard Nelson, according to town records.

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